Switch-signal stand



(No Model.)

A. lLSTROM. Y SWITCH SIGNAL STAND.

No. 430,407. Patented June 17, 1890.

' i im wilg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL A. STROM, OF AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-SIGNAL STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,407, dated June 17, 1890.

' Application filed March 10, 1890. `Serial N. 343,292. (No model.)

.To @ZZ wiz/0m, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, AXEL A. STROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of devices for operating railroadswitches having a vertically-disposed rotary spindle or target-rod provided at its lower end with a crank, at which it is connected through the connecting-bar with the switch, and carrying at its upper end a semaphore (target or lamp) turned by the rotation of the spindle to open the switch to display the danger-signal, and by the rotation thereof to close the switch to display the safety-signal.

The object 0f myimprovement is to provide simple and effective means for causing the spindle to be rotated throughout a portion of a turn thereof for throwing the switch independently of the semaphore, whereby the throw of the switch may exceed that of the semaphore without requiring to that end an undue length of crank at which to connect the switch by the switch-bar.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View, in broken elevation, of a known form of switch-stand provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. I and viewed in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 3 a section taken on the line 3of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

A is the standard.

B is the spindle, which extends vertically along the outer side of the standard in the form of switch-stand I have selected for displaying the application of my improvement, though I wish it clearly to be understood that my improved mechanism is not intended by reason of such selection to be limited to any particular form of the switch-stand. At its lower end the spindle B terminates in a crank C, extended to enter a socket o' on the base q of the standard and adapted to have the switch-connecting rod (not shown) connected with it. The spindle is confined toward its upper end in a suitable bearing p, from which it extends upward beyond the rigid table D, (shown as provided at directlyopposite points in its periphery with notches o and o' to receive the lever E, hereinafter more definitely referred to,) and beyond the table the upper end of the spindle may be flattened or square, as shown, and is housed in the yoke F, firmly secured to it, as by a pin 0c, and from the bifurcated lateral extension n of which the lever E is pivotally supported to hang normally and enter a notch in the table, wherein it may be locked, as usual, through its opening m in the head portion.

The semaphore-spindle B is separate from the spindle B, being inserted at its lower end into the yoke F from its upper side, near which the yoke is cut away or hollowed in one side, as shown at Z, Fig. 2, to the extent in width corresponding with the excess in sweep desired for the crank beyond that of the semaphore. (Not shown.) A suitable lug, which may be in the form of the screw k, extends laterally from the spindle B across the opening Z in the yoke, and into its path at the opposite limits of the intended play of the lug extend from the stationary table D stops 7L and h. Thus to throw the switch with the parts of the switch-stand in the relative positions illustrated on freeing the lever E from the notch o it is turned toward the notch o', thereby, through the medium of the yoke F, turning the spindle B and crank C, but without turning the spindle B (unless by friction in any event stopping at the stop Zt) until the side fi of the opening Z in the yoke impinges against the pin k, whence the spindle B is turned with the spindle B to the completion of the throw of the crank.

As shown, the construction provides for the turning of the spindle B twice the extent of turning the semaphore-spindle B', thus a half-revolution of the former to a quarterrevolution of the latter; but obviously'4 the part of a revolution through which the spindle B requires to be turned depends upon the extent of throw of the switch, which may exceed that of the semaphore by less than onehalf, when the relations of parts would be provided for accordingly.

rIhe construction shown and described, forming my improvement, is desirable by reason of its simplicity and effectiveness.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

IOO

l. n a switel1stand,tl1e combination, with the spindle B, of a Crank adapted to have applied to it a switch-connecting bar, a yoke F, into which the upper end of the said spindle extends and is secured and provided laterally with an openingl and having the operatinglever conneered with it, and a semaphorespindle B', loosely supported in the yoke and provided with a lu g 7c, extending into the opening Z, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A switch-stand comprising, in Combination, a standard provided with a table having peripheral notches, a spindle B, a Crank AXEL A. STROM.

In presence of- J. XV. DYRENFORTH, M. J. FROST. 

